Concrete-chute distributing system



1. F. ROBB.

CONCRETE CHUTE DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

PatntedJune 6, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLTCATION FILED AUGJ- 1920.

I. F. ROBB.

CONCRETE C HUTE DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-I. I920. 1,418,738. t d u 6, 1 922.

- 2 SHEETS'SHEET 2- JOHN E. none, or orinvnrsnn nnrerrrs. onto.

CONCEETE-GHUTE DISTRIBUTING sesame.

Specification of Ietters Patent. Pajfigj ted June 6, 1922.

Application filed August 7, 182%. Serial No. 491,880;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jenn F. Hone, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Cleveland Heights, in the count; ot Cuya'hoga and State of Ohio have invented certain new and useful improvements in Concrete- Chute Distributing Systems, o't which the following is a specification.

The most modern andnow almost universally used method of distributing concrete for the erection. ot lniildings building of walls and similar concrete or reinforced concrete structures involves the employment of a central tower elevating means for elevating the concrete aggregates to different points depending upon the heights to ra'hi'ch the erection has been made. a receivinghopper torthe concrete elevated carried in a suitable manner on the tower, and a system of chutes leading from said hopper and supported by a boom or by tackle in a suitable manner. The system oi chutes conveys the concrete by gravity to the place where it is to be deposited. 7 plant above described is one of the highest elliciency known.

The object of this'invention is to improve certain features of the above system of concrete distribution. Especially does the in vention relate to the provision of counterbalancing .reversely extending chutes connected by a suitably fabricated reinforcing itrame andv means for directing the con rete materials to either one or the other of aid reversely extending chutes according to the direction in which the concrete is to be conveyed, and at the will of those in charge of the apparatus.

another. By the use of the invention wherea long line of chuting is in position it be comes unnecessary to disturb the ad ustment of said line otchuting when a dlflerent The general distributing linethat ofthe reversely'extending chute is A greater desired I to be put into action. radius of distribution is thus obtained without' necessitating"the readjustment of anespeci'ally long line ofchu'tes and a very flexible system is provided. Iv

Again my invention includes'novel means" to control the direction offlow of the con crete, 111 respect to the reversely extending chutes so that one or the "other shall be acw able.

both otthem if necessary or desir- These improvementsfurthermore comprehend the employment of an adjustable weigliit, it necessary or desirable, so co'actmg with the chute frame as to assist in counterbala'ncing either'one or the other of the reversely extending chutes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevatlon'of a concrete distributii'ig system embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation, showing more clearly the mode of suspensionoit' the reversely extending: chute units and bringity as to require very'brie'f description to enable those versed in this particularart to understand the improvements asset forth. Referring to the main figures of the drawings the central distributing and elevating tower for the concrete is illustrated at AA. Supported on this tower. and adapted for vertical ad ustment as required is the hopper 13. The elevator or hoist by which the concrete is raised and transferred to the hopper-B is not shown but unav be of any usual type. Leading from th'e'hopper B is a supporting' part comprising; the distributins; chute 1. This chute is supported at its upper end by a suitable rotative connection with the hopper B, and thechute may also be raised vertioallv bv movement about a horizontal axis. The boom 2 and thetackle,

shown at 3 and 4-,, support the chute 1 at the lower end in the known manner.

Suspended from the chute 1 at its lower end, is a chute unit of my invention. The unit is designated U and comprises a fabricated framework 5, of somewhat triangular shape and suitably reinforced to make it rigid; additionally said unit includes, practically as a part of the framework, the revcrsely extending chutes 6 which meet or merge into one another at their upper ends at the hopper 7. A ring 8, swiveled on the lower end of the chute 1, has connected therewith the links 9 which are attached to the hopper 7, and in this way the chute unit (I is rotatively and pivotally connected with the chute 1.

Figure 2 plainly shows how I provide a gate for valve 10, movable to opposite adjustments whereby to direct the concrete passing from the chute 1 to the hopper 7, into either one of the chutes 6. The valve to may be adjusted to a midway or central position. in the hopper and in this way the concrete may be directed into both chutes (5 to flow in opposite'directions to spaced distributing points. Any suitable means, such as a spring contrivance 11, may be employed to hold the valve or gate 10 in its central position and gravity resorted to to maintain the valve in either of its oppositely inclined positions.

l contemplate using manipulative ropes or cords 12 connected with the valve 10 and em tending to opposite ends of the unit 0, for operating said valve at the willv oi? the user of the apparatus.

At each end of the unit (l other units C may be arranged at opposite ends, or one end of the unit U, or a line oil? chutes or spouting may be connected with either or both such ends as will be well understood by those versed in this art.

ll desired i may use adjustable chutes such as designated at 13, for the units 0.

ll desired I may employ an adjustable weight i4 equipped with rollers and shiftable on a horizontal bar '15 and adapted to he held in place by suitable fastening means 16 at various adjustments, so that if one chute 6 of the unit 0 is used the weight of the concrete received thereby may he counterbalanced by the weight 1st, which may be shifted from one side to the other 01 the vertical axis of the hopper 7, or positioned in line with said axis.

It is contem 'ilated within the purview of this invention to use tackle 1 for supporting the chute 'l and one or more of such units as are shown at C.

By the use oil the invention it is clear that one-end oil the customary triangular frame at present used to support one chute of the distributing system, is made useful as a support for a reversely extending chute, thereby increasing the usefulness of the apparatus without materially increasing the expense of structure because the provision of the additional chute is very little more structurally than would be the fabricated metal of said frame. 0f greater impartance however, is the wider radius of action at torded by the system.

Having thus described my invention what l. claim as new is:

1. In combination, a main distributing chute, and a chute unit communicating with the main distributing chute, said chute unit comprising oppositely extending counterhah ancing chutes connected at adjacent ends.

A construction substantially claimed in claim 1 wherein the oppositely extending chutes of the chute unit are supported at their connected ends and downwardly inclined from each other.

A construction as claimed in claim 1, combined with chutes leading from the oppositely extending chutes oi the chute unit.

l. A construction as claimed. in claim l wherein the chute unit is rotative relatively to the main distributing chute.

5. A construction substantially as claimed in claim 1 combined with connecting means intermediate to the chute unit and the main distributing chute and comprising a universal connection.

6. A construction substantially as claimed in claim 1, combined with means for causing concrete flowing through the main chute to pass to either of the oppositely extended chutes of the chute unit.

7. A construction substantially as claimed in claim '1, in which the chutes incline downwardly, combined with means for causing the concrete passing through the main chute to be directed into both of the chutes oi the chute unit.

8. A construction substantially as claimed in claim 1 combined with means for causing concrete passing through the main chute to be directed to either one or both of the oppositely extended chutes oi the chute unit.

9. In combination a concrete elevating and distribi'iting means including a hopper, a main distributing chute leading from the hopper, a triangular chute unit su naorted by the main distributing chute. and comprising opposite downwardly extending counterbah ancing chutes connected together at adjacent ends and communicating with the main chute.

10. A construction substantially as claimed in claim 9, combined with means for varying the counterbalancing etl'ect oi? one chute relatively to the other of the chutes oi the chute unit.

11. A construction substantially as claimed in claim 9, combined with a weight shittable to occupy a position in line with the vertical axis of the chute unit or at either of opposite ides thereof.

1.2. A construction as claimed in claim 9,

emme combined With a triangular chute unit supported at one end of the first named chute unit and of similar construction.

13. A chute unit for concrete distributing systems including oppositely extending communicating chutes and a reinforcing frame therefor, and means to direct concrete to either chute.

14. In combination, a central distributing tower, and a system of distributing chutes supported thereon, comprising a main distributing chute, and a chute unit suspended at the lower end of the main distributing chute, said chute unit comprising oppositely extending, counterbalancing chutes connected at adjacent ends; and connected with the main chute at said adjacent ends, and a chute connected with one of the oppositely extending chutes of the chute unit.

15. In combination a concrete elevating and distributing means including a hopper, a main distributing chute leading from the hopper a triangular chute unit supported by the main distributing chute, and comprising opposite downwardly extending counterbalancing chutes connected together at adjacent ends and communicating With the main chute and rotatively supported thereby, and units rotatively supported at each end of that first mentioned and'of like construction to receive materials therefrom.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

JOHN F. ROBBf 

